Dublin Central Criminal Court. Photo G. Willoughby
The murder trial of a Tipperary farmer who stands accused of killing another male love rival, has heard that a broken hair clip, springs, cable ties and bone fragments were recovered from a pit where the deceased’s body was discovered some two years after he had been reported missing.
Mr Patrick Quirke, aged 50 years, from Breanshamore, Co Tipperary has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Bobby Ryan, latter aged 52 years on a date unknown, but sometime between June 3rd, 2011 and April 13th, 2013.
The selected jury in the trial will travel tomorrow to the farm where the deceased body was located.
It is the prosecution’s claim that Mr Quirke murdered the DJ / lorry driver, Mr Bobby Ryan (known as Mr Moonlight, latter seen as a possible love rival), prior to Mr Ryan being recovered from a slurry run-off tank on farmland in the townsland of Fawnagowan; same just a 9 minute drive (6.4km) from Tipperary town on the N24, on the Bansha road in Co. Tipperary.
We understand that the late Mr Ryan was last observed leaving the home of Mrs Mary Lowry, whom he was in a relationship with, on the morning of June 3rd, 2011.
The six men and six women jury already spent time examining still photographs of the run-off tank, a slurry tank, various farm buildings and the nearby home, all in the area where Mr Ryan’s decaying body was located back in 2013.
Detective Sergeant Mr Larry Stapleton, at the Dublin Central Criminal Court, informed defence counsel Mr Lorcan Staines, with regard to the items found at the location of the body.
Suggesting that they all locate and bring Wellington Boots; Justice Eileen Creedon confirmed to the 12-person jury, that they will travel to the farm in Tipperary to view the relevant buildings and the surrounding land tomorrow; but warned they should do so simply as observers; warning them not to take photographs or carry out any personal experiments.
Already in opening to the trial of Mr Quirke on Monday; prosecuting Counsel Mr Michael Bowman said that the prosecution will rely on various strands of circumstantial evidence which, when all woven together, would prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr Quirke is indeed guilty of this crime of murder.
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